Category: Alaska News

TOTE Maritime Names Alex Hofeling New Vice President and General Manager in Alaska

Anchorage, AK – Alex Hofeling has been selected as the next Vice President and General Manager for TOTE Maritime’s Alaska office and operations. In this role, Hofeling will oversee both the Anchorage and Fairbanks offices.

Hofeling has been with TOTE Maritime since September 2013. He began his time with TOTE as a Regional Sales Manager and was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2016. Over the last five years, Hofeling has played an instrumental role in TOTE Maritime’s success in Alaska. Before TOTE, Hofeling worked for Coastal Transportation and served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

In his role as Vice President and General Manager, Hofeling will be the face of TOTE in the state of Alaska, work closely with the Port, labor partners, customers and community partners to ensure that TOTE continues to offer reliable, best in class service to the Last Frontier state.

Hofeling will succeed Grace Greene who was promoted to President of TOTE Maritime Alaska in August 2018. He will assume the role on January 1 and will relocate to Anchorage with his family over the coming months.

TOTE Maritime Alaska is excited to support Mountain View Elementary by providing in-kind shipping for their new playground. The playground at the elementary school was destroyed in a fire and though it will be hard to have it ready in time for the school year, hopefully TOTE Maritime’s support will mean it can happen as quickly as possible.

Michael Noone will become President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and Grace Greene will assume the role of President at TOTE Maritime Alaska

June 12, 2018 – Today TOTE announced leadership changes within its TOTE Maritime division. Michael Noone, currently President of TOTE Maritime Alaska will transition and become President at TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico. Grace Greene, currently Vice President and General Manager at TOTE Maritime Alaska has been promoted to President and will take over for Noone.

These transitions are the first changes within the TOTE organization following the announcement that Tim Nolan will step into the role of President and CEO following the retirement of Anthony Chiarello later this summer.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with another TOTE company and I look forward to working closer with my colleagues in Jacksonville and San Juan in serving our customers in the Puerto Rico trade” commented Mike Noone. “It has been wonderful to work with my colleagues and the customers in the Alaska trade for the last five years – they have been like a family. Their commitment to Alaska is reflected in TOTE Maritime Alaska’s recent Quest for Quality Award as the Top Ocean Carrier. I am grateful for their support and dedication and I look forward to becoming a part of the Puerto Rico team.”

Noone has more than 30 years of experience in the maritime industry and has been with TOTE Maritime Alaska since 2013. He will officially step into his role on September 4, immediately following the Labor Day holiday. Greene will assume the role of President for TOTE Maritime Alaska on August 6.

“Having lived in Alaska for nearly 10 years, I have personally experienced the critical support that TOTE Maritime Alaska provides to the people and communities of this state” noted Grace Greene. “I look forward to serving as President of TOTE Maritime Alaska and working with the entire team to build on our 40 year success.”

Greene has worked for TOTE Maritime since 2014 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot and Aircraft Commander.

“This is an exciting time for the TOTE family of companies” noted Nolan. “I am confident that we have the best people leading the TOTE Maritime organization into the future. Their leadership will build on TOTE’s 40+ year commitment to providing the best maritime shipping services to the communities of Alaska and Puerto Rico.”

TOTE Maritime Launches Mobile Application for Customers

Mobile App is part of TOTE Maritime’s eSolutions platform designed to streamline and enhance the customer experience

May 10, 2018 – In late March, TOTE Maritime introduced a new mobile application as part of the company’s online customer service platform. The new mobile application is the first in the US domestic trade to offer a single platform for customers to access real time shipment data.

The TOTE Portal mobile application allows TOTE Maritime customers to access their shipment information from anywhere using any device. Features of this new application include but are not limited to:

Equipment Status Information

Watch List Capabilities with Automatic Notification

Arrival & Departure Shipment Details

Voyage Calendar

One Touch Access to Customer Service

Since its initial launch, TOTE Maritime – with customers in diverse locations such as Puerto Rico and Alaska – has received praise for the application specifically regarding its ease of use, increased transparency and overall benefits for customers’ business needs.

“I love the TOTE Maritime app – overall it is a wonderful addition to their customer service. I like that I can do everything from my phone including track shipments and monitor inventory. This information allows me to make educated decisions about equipment in our yards which is important for the larger business” commented Andrea Thompson of the Odom Corporation.

Todd Browner, District Manager for Lynden International noted “It is very easy to use and provides a lot of information at my fingertips – I don’t have to pull out my laptop and log in to get updates.”

“TOTE is committed to meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations and needs” noted Kevin Kendrick, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, TOTE. “The new mobile app provides access to critical cargo information at any time of day. Our goal is for the app to enhance TOTE’s best in class customer service experience.”

This new tool is part of TOTE’s eSolutions platform – an ongoing effort to provide online applications that are useful and relevant to TOTE’s diverse customer base.

In addition to updated web portal, TOTE Maritime will launch mobile application in early 2018

March 7, 2018 – TOTE Maritime has continued to enhance its customer web portal as part of its ongoing commitment to the customer experience and best-in-class service. The updates will both improve and simplify the customer experience, reducing the amount of time customers spend on the portal and making it easier to manage shipments.

This series of enhancements is Phase III of TOTE Maritime’s portal upgrade and part of the company’s commitment to providing a premier customer experience.

Additional features included in the portal enhancement include:

Improved navigation features which will reduce the amount of time customers spend in the portal while streamlining access to cargo data and information.

Both TOTE Maritime’s Alaska and Puerto Rico customers benefit from this upgrade made available to all customers on February 26.

In addition to this modern and simplified customer portal, TOTE Maritime is currently testing a mobile application which will have the same look and feel that customers enjoy in the online portal. A few of the features included in the mobile application include watch list capabilities, equipment status information and a voyage calendar. TOTE Maritime’s mobile platform will be complete and available to customers by the end of March.

LNG tanks and critical engine updates completed during initial phase of four year process

February 26, 2018 – Federal Way, WA – TOTE Maritime Alaska has completed the first of four conversion periods for the Orca class vessels, a process which will enable the ships to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. TOTE Maritime’s North Star arrived in Anchorage yesterday, completing her first voyage after being outfitted with two LNG tanks immediately behind the ship’s bridge.

In addition to the LNG tanks and accompanying infrastructure, the ship received critical engine updates necessary to utilize LNG as a fuel and underwent a standard regulatory dry-dock.

TOTE Maritime was the first maritime shipping company in the world to announce its intention to convert their fleet, enabling the engines to use both LNG and diesel

This conversion will drastically reduce air emissions from TOTE Maritime’s Alaska ships, virtually eliminating sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter while drastically reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide. Reduced emissions will result in a healthier environment for Tacoma, WA, Puget Sound and Anchorage, AK, the communities in which TOTE Maritime operates.

“We are excited to be the first shipping company in the United States to undertake this important environmental effort” noted Mike Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Alaska. “And we are appreciative of our customers and partners who support our ongoing effort to innovate in ways that reflect our commitment to the environment and communities we serve.”

Over the next four years, three more conversion periods will be required to finalize the transition of TOTE Maritime Alaska’s vessels to LNG to LNG. Each of these conversion periods will take place in the winter to minimize the impact to customers and consumers alike. The conversion of both ships is scheduled to be complete in Q1 of 2021.

The Regional Impact Award recognizes leadership in economic development initiatives of the region; a focus on collegially inclusive approach to new existing business opportunities within our regional corridor; and a commitment to enhancing the economic prosperity of the region.

TOTE Maritime, through its operations in Alaska and Puerto Rico, provides high-speed liner services in the U.S. domestic trade. Operating in the Jones Act trade since 1975, TOTE companies strategically and efficiently route cargo from anywhere in North America to Puerto Rico and Alaska.

“We are extremely pleased to receive the Regional Impact Award from the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce,” SAID Michael Noone, President, TOTE Maritime Alaska. “A core value at TOTE is our commitment to the communities where we live and work, and to be recognized as a leader in our community is especially gratifying. We look forward to a continued partnership with the Federal Way Chamber.”

The services offered by TOTE Maritime companies are critical to our remote areas of the United States. Flexible, efficient, twice-weekly service to their dedicated trade routes ensures reliable, consistent and cost-effective cargo transport for U.S. residents in the non-contiguous states.

November 9, 2017 – Federal Way, WA – TOTE Maritime Alaska, a daughter company of TOTE Inc., the leading American marine-transportation group, recently contracted MAN PrimeServ – MAN Diesel & Turbo’s after-sales division – to convert the ‘North Star’ and ‘Midnight Sun’ to dual-fuel operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The roll on/roll off ships are currently both powered by 4 × MAN 58/64 engines and will be retrofitted to MAN 58/64 retrofit units. The contract – signed in April 2017 and announced during the High Horsepower (HHP) Summit, a conference and expo on the use of natural gas – covers the design, development and testing of a first-of-its-kind dual-fuel kit, which will serve as foundation for the largest LNG conversion in North America.

A key influence in TOTE’s decision to retrofit the vessels to LNG is to significantly reduce the most harmful emissions that result from burning diesel. “TOTE Maritime Alaska is excited to convert its fleet to LNG power which will result in a significant reduction in air emissions including particulate matter, sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx). This significant investment of time and money is a reflection of our commitment to the environment, our customers and the state of Alaska” noted Michael Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Alaska.

Dr. Thomas Spindler, Head of Upgrades & Retrofits at MAN PrimeServ Augsburg, explained: “To meet TOTE’s requirements, we have developed a solution based on our well-proven 51/60DF retrofit. Accordingly, the engineering approach to the 58/64 retrofit is very familiar to us, and this project represents a straightforward conversion procedure.”

Spindler added: “The investment will be of huge benefit to the customer on several fronts: not only will the retrofitted engines meet all new emission standards; the new components they receive during conversion will significantly extend their working life.”

“We have been investigating and testing many options for shifting the fleet to LNG. The conversion of the existing engines is the most reliable and beneficial solution” said Peter Keller, Executive Vice President of TOTE. “This innovative solution that has been developed in partnership with MAN, will be an important milestone for the industry as we all prepare for the IMO sulphur cap in 2020.”

-30-

In perspective

TOTE Maritime Alaska handles approximately one-third of goods transportation between the continental US and Alaska. Both the North Star and Midnight Sun operate fast routes between Anchorage, Alaska and Tacoma, Washington.

The two Orca class ships were originally constructed by NASSCO, part of the General Dynamics Corporation – the United States aerospace and Defence Company – at its San Diego yard and were commissioned in 2003.

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, based in Augsburg, Germany, is the world’s leading provider of large-bore diesel and gas engines and turbomachinery. The company employs around 15,000 staff at more than 100 international sites, primarily in Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, India and China. The company’s product portfolio includes two-stroke and four-stroke engines for marine and stationary applications, turbochargers and propellers as well as gas and steam turbines, compressors and chemical reactors. The range of services and supplies is rounded off by complete solutions like ship propulsion systems, engine-based power plants and turbomachinery trains for the oil & gas as well as the process industries. Customers receive worldwide after-sales services marketed under the MAN PrimeServ brand.

About TOTE

TOTE is a leading transportation and logistics company, overseeing some of the most trusted companies in the U.S. domestic trade. TOTE Maritime Alaska is the premier provider of ocean transportation service between the ports of Anchorage, Alaska and Tacoma, Washington. Other TOTE subsidiaries include the well-known TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, TOTE Services and TOTE Shipholdings. TOTE Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources, Inc., a family owned, Seattle, Washington-based holding company of freight transportation and petroleum distribution companies.

TOTE Maritime Alaska began installing ORBCOMM’s solutions in the second quarter of 2017 and will complete installation of all equipment late Q4 2017 or early Q1 2018.

Federal Way, Washington – October 5, 2017 – TOTE Maritime Alaska has announced that the installation of ORBCOMM’s telematics devices across a broad equipment platform will be complete in the coming months. ORBCOMM Inc., a leading global provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IOT) solutions, was selected to provide a broad portfolio of telematics solutions to monitor and control its refrigerated, dry and flatbed equipment. TOTE Maritime Alaska is the leading Jones Act carrier serving the Alaska market, connecting greater Alaska to the Continental United States and beyond. This is the second deployment for TOTE Maritime, following the success of the TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico reefer management system deployment earlier this year.

By leveraging telematics technology, TOTE can further improve key initiatives across safety, cold-chain, customer experience, and provide the tools to have the most efficient and safe supply chain to the state of Alaska.

In addition, TOTE is deploying ORBCOMM’s VesselConnect solution on their fleet of Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO/RO) vessels for “on-water” monitoring and reporting. This is the first known deployment on a RO/RO vessel in the shipping industry. ORBCOMM’s VesselConnect allows TOTE to receive critical data from its refrigerated containers and trailers, including reefer status and temperature, on the 1,450 nautical mile voyage between Anchorage and Tacoma. A key benefit of ORBCOMM’s VesselConnect is enhanced crew safety by eliminating the need to manually check the temperature status and condition of reefers.

“ORBCOMM’s advanced telematics solutions are an ideal complement to TOTE Maritime Alaska’s best-in-class service and assets and will enable us to provide maximum safety and further improve the overall customer experience,” said Michael Noone, President, TOTE Maritime Alaska. “Our commitment to innovate is essential to our success, and we look forward to deploying ORBCOMM technology on our assets to provide an even greater service and experience for our customers.”

TOTE Maritime Alaska began installing ORBCOMM’s solutions in the second quarter of 2017 and will complete installation of all equipment late Q4 2017 or early Q1 2018.

TOTE Maritime Alaska named Top Ocean Carrier and both TOTE Maritime Alaska and Puerto Rico received top honors for Customer Service

September 28, 2017 – Federal Way, WA – TOTE Maritime Alaska has been awarded top honors as the leading Ocean Carrier and both TOTE Maritime Alaska and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico received the highest scores in the customer service category in this year’s Quest for Quality Awards.

Logistics Management’s annual Quest for Quality awards ranks Ocean carriers on five categories – on-time, performance, value, information technology, customer services and equipment and operations. “TOTE Maritime Alaska is honored to receive this special award from the industry,” commented Mike Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Alaska. “It is especially gratifying because it is an acknowledgement directly from our customers for the best-in-class service we provide them.”

Driving TOTE Maritime Alaska’s leader position in the Ocean Carrier category was its top ranking in both the value and customer service categories. Within the area of customer service, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and TOTE Maritime Alaska outranked the other carriers with a score of 9.85, while the carrier average was 8.32. TOTE Maritime is honored to be ranked the Best of the Best in Customer Service in LM’s 2017 Quest for Quality Awards.

Tim Nolan, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico noted “The TOTE Maritime team is dedicated to exceeding our client’s’ expectations with efficiency, integrity and unparalleled customer service. We are pleased to accept these awards that reflect our commitment to exceptional customer service in ocean cargo transportation.”

Despite all of the uncertainty throughout the shipping industry, TOTE Maritime has maintained its focus on delivering excellent customer service throughout all facets of its supply chain. Logistics Management readers have stated that TOTE Maritime has done nothing less than provide world-class service over the last year.

Posts navigation

At TOTE Maritime, shipping is about more than reliable delivery, it’s about people. The TOTE Maritime team is dedicated to exceeding our clients’ expectations with efficiency, integrity and unparalleled customer service. We’re equally committed to our own employees – fostering a working environment where they are respected, inspired, and recognized for excellent work.